The Coasters´ leads
(on records 1954 - 1973).All Robins´ tracks for Spark are included. No
alternates counted (unless another lead). When a title has more than one lead all are
counted for. Note: Approx. counting. Unison songs led by Gardner.

In 1959, when I was a teenager,
"Charlie Brown" hit the Top 10 in Sweden. I was already a devoted Coasters fan
(after hearing "Yakety Yak") and started buying all their available records (I
will never forget the strain I went through, forcing my local dealer to order Atco LPs
from America). "Shoppin´ For Clothes" was not released in Sweden, but I sent a
courier to get the London single in England, and from 1962 I obtained further (and early)
recordings directly from the Atlantic office (Theresa Garthson at the Atlantic staff in
New York also supplied me with wonderful publicity photos and recording information). I
published my first Coasters discography in England in 1963, followed by some minor
articles in Sweden during the next 15 odd years (Bill Millar corrected me once concerning
my mix-up of Gardner & Guy on photos; and I continued my research after Bill´s
ambitious and engaging book). In 1980 I supplied Mr R&B Records with the material for
the Coasters´ special rare recordings album.

During 1988 I compiled, and in early 1990 I published my first limited edition of Those Hoodlum Friends, loosely based on the discography Kurt
Mohr had supplied for inclusion in Millar´s book "The Coasters" (Star Books,
1975). Responses from collectors and further research resulted in slightly revised
editions, published in strictly limited quantities. Those editions were continuously
extended (including singles and albums listings, chart placings, and also a "Fake
Coasters recordings" section). The fifth  updated - edition, including
members´ mini bio´s and an extended section on the group´s story (titled "The
Story  Quoted"), was published by "Now Dig This" in 1993.

This new edition was first published on the Internet in September-October 1999 (44 years
after the foundation of the Coasters) - completely re-edited, including latest information
on issued records and updated biographical information with several further story-quotes.
It also featured a heavily improved layout. Furthermore a new introductional presentation
of the Coasters was added. Also added was a large section of a year by year re-cap of
"50 Years of R&B with the Coasters", and sections with the Robins´ and
Bobby Nunn´s discographies; plus some special "extras". The web site was
continuously revised during 2001 and 2002 and subsequently updated. It nowadays comprises
more than 25 large Internet scrollable pages.

Carl Gardner (original and present
lead singer of the Coasters) and Veta Gardner (his wife and manager), who I both had the
pleasant privilege to guest in early 1992, have been extremely helpful in creating this
ultimate discography. I call Veta and Carl Gardner my very good friends. Thanks also to
Bill Millar, Chris Woodford, Trevor Cajiao,
Todd Baptista, Eric LeBlanc, Charles Sheen, Stefan Pingel-Wriedt, and the late Brian
Watson, who have encouraged me to update and improve my work. I am extremely obliged to
Theresa Garthson, who has been the foremost inspiration to my discographical interest.
Special thanks to Bernd Kratochwil of Rockin´ Fifties magazine, Germany. Information has also been obtained from Bob Altshuler, Michel Ruppli, Robert Palmer,
Fernando L. Gonzalez, Gary Kramer, Kurt Mohr, Galen Gart, Leslie Fancourt, Big Al Pavlow,
Robert D. Ferlingere, Norbert Hess, Dick Horlick, Charlie Gillett, Cliff White, Colin
Escott, Pete Grendysa, Jay Warner, Alan Balfour, Barry
Hansen, Dave Booth, Mitch Rosalsky, and Billy Vera. Extra specialacknowledgments go to Tony
Rounce (nowadays at Ace Records) of Sequel Records in London, who (with assistance from Bob
Fisher, Brian Watson, Little Walter Devenne and Seamus McGarvey) has
made it possible for us to enjoy all Atco recordings in Sequel Records´ special 4CD
series. I would also like to thank the owner of Relic Record Shoppe in Hackensack, NJ, who
got me the terrific "Charlie Brown" CD of 2000; Frank Scott,
who served me with the "In Concert" CD; Cary Mansfield at
VareseVintage, and especially James Fritz of Rhino
Handmade, who made a terrific job with "The Coasters On Atco" issued in
2007. Thanks also to Rhino Records, to Collectables Records, and to Peter
Stoller.

About the Session Discography

Formula/standards - Headings: Vocal
line-up, instrumental accompanists (with arranger, producer, engineer), recording
location and date. Line: master number, track title
(with marks of lead singer and accompanists), re-allocated master numbers, track time,
original and special record issues. Alternate and edited tracks are listed after original
masters. This is followed by Notes concerning the last listed session.

For release dates of original U.S.
singles, see separate singles discography. For composer credits and publishing firms, see "Presenting The Coasters"("Dance" and "Crocodile"
composed by Leiber-Stoller). For a full Coasters LP and CD discography (with foreign and
U.S. reissues), see separate albums discography -
"CD Guide with albums discography". For a guide on tracks on
representative CDs, see
Ultimate CD Collection. Listed issues are noted chronologically (for
best view, see the special singles and albums
sections). For off-shot and fake Coasters
recordings, see separate section.

When recording location is not given, the studio
listed last is valid. When accompanists are not given, the last listed are valid. The
Coasters´ vocal line-ups are given as headings for each new studio line-up (guest
vocalists are listed among accompanists). Carl Gardner
sings lead, unless otherwise indicated. When a Coasters´ stage
guitarist appears for the first time on a session, his name appears in bold.
When "prob." or "poss." (probably or possibly) appears after a
certain name, it is confirmed that the noted performer was present at the session. If such
an abbreviation appears before a certain name, it is not fully confirmed that the
performer was actually present.

Master numbers in parentheses indicate reallocated
numbers. In 1959 Atco´s masters were given Atlantic master numbers and further recordings
were mastered in sequence with Atlantic recordings. When two master numbers are given
without parentheses, they indicate file no. (matrix) and number used on single issue. When
known, track time is noted after master number (all tracks with time noted, indicate
recordings in the possession of the editor).

Times can differ by a couple of
seconds, depending on different track endings and the results of the electronic stereo
editions on later releases. Note that electronic stereo versions of same master can differ
also in general sound from original issue. Let´s analyze "Yakety Yak":

"Yakety Yak" Analyzelisten to: original mono version
(time 1:50)
All but the original mono on Rhino Handmade

Due to the alternate versions
appearing on different issues (original mono issues, edited stereo tracks, electronic
stereo versions, true stereo versions and complete alternate takes) some mistakes may
have entered the discography! Just give me a note if you find any (I have not been blessed
with the best technical knowledge). In 1958 Atlantic started recording in 8-track stereo,
although the first issues did not see light until the mid and late ´60s. Some never did
until the Sequel issues.

Alternate takes (alt.take) are different recording takes and edited (ed.) tracks use
several parts of original master. Slightly edited (sl.ed.) tracks use most parts of
original master. Beyond the fact that all alternate and edited versions are in stereo (in
contrast to original mono issues), they often also differ distinctly in vocal and
instrumental approach. Several Sequel stereo masters
differ distinctly to the original mono issues, although they are not listed as separate
takes (the "alternate editions" are though mentioned in the notes).
Some stereo editions are electronic, although several later stereo masters on
Warner Bros, Sequel, the "Charlie Brown" CD and Rhino Handmade are true stereo.

Issues without label mark
indicate Atco Records. "A" indicates U.S. Atlantic issues. Only U.S.
releases and British 45´s (E) are listed (all London Records are British). Only the
original albums are listed in the session discography (Rhino´s double-set CD R2 71090
"50 Coastin´ Classics" is noted, as RCD for general overview).
The 30 mono masters on Rhino 2CD 132092, which incluedes all Coasters Pop Chart
hits (issued in 2007 and titled "The Definitive Soul Collection") are
marked R2C. All tracks on the four British Sequel CDs of March, 1997 - RSA CD 868,
869, 870 and 871 are listed. All tracks on "Charlie Brown" CD
of 2000 are listed (American
bootleg - noted as RBRelic), numbered
5267-65175-1B+ (all of them are true stereo editions except "My Baby Comes To
Me") - with alternate versions listed separately with track time including
studio chat. When that CD has an original master (listed together with original issues) it
almost always has longer track time due to studio chats and longer endings - fadeouts (the
enhanced track time presented in notes). All tracks of "50 Golden Years with The Coasters"
are marked G50.All tracks of Rhino Handmade RHM2-7740 4CD Box "The
Complete Atco Recordings" are marked RHM (with postfix s if it is a stereo
master). All tracks on Varese Vintage CD 302066844-2"Down Home" (comprising the Date/King
tracks) are noted for overview (VV).

Albums are noted with LP or CD prefixes. Tracks which are issued in album form only on
non-original albums, have those albums noted (several later compilations have alternate
takes - the Atco subsidiary Clarion LP 605 "That Is Rock & Roll",
the British Atlantic LP K-30057 "20 Great Originals", Atco LP
33-371 "Their Greatest Recordings - The Early Years", some of
the Japanese Warner/Pioneer LPs, and the British Edsel LP ED 156 "Thumbin´
A Ride"). The stereo album of LP 135 (SD 33-135 "Coast Along
with The Coasters") includes the alternate stereo versions listed in the
discography after the mono takes (e.g. "The Snake & The Bookworm", which is
a complete different take).

For reissues and later
compilations, see separate albums discography (with full track listings). The Swedish
Mr R&B LP is noted as RBLP 102. Atlantic/DeLuxe LP 2-4003
also issued on Atlantic´s "mother" company, Warner, as CD 27604-2 with four
lesser tracks (see notes); the CD contains stereo editions. When takes are not the same on
that CD compared to the LP, the Warner CD is noted in the session
discography. The tracks of listed compilations which correspond to original issues are not
noted (e.g.: the track "That Is Rock & Roll" on the Edsel LP is identical to
the original issues and therefor not noted in the discography). The Coasters´ hits have
been reissued on several compilations with various artists on different labels. Such
compilations, in general, only noted in this edition, when tracks are not on any original
album. See special CD Guide for overview on Coasters CDs. In late 2004
Rhino-Elektra-Warner published the three Atco LPs 101, 123, and 135 on RealPlayer Music Store for download purchasing.
The discography starts with the Robins´ Spark recordings (the only Robins tracks
featuring Carl Gardner). All of these were later issued as by the Coasters (see heading
below). In this discography the Spark recordings are not listed according to "LS
master numbers" (which may have been
assigned by Leiber-Stoller in conjunction with registration of publishing rights), but according to probable dates of recording (thereby
corresponding with the Atco assigned master numbers  and with aural/technical
evidence). The Robins´ pre- and post Spark recordings are listed in a separate section
(also including Bobby Nunn´s solo recordings).

Listen to some good Coasters music (with your realplayer)!
Click on the realaudio files - the files will download automatically - and you can keep on
scrolling at this page!

In discussing Leiber & Stoller’s history with
Mike, I’ve noticed a few errors in your generally excellent and invaluable
Coasters/Robins sessionography.

According to
the site, “Hongry,” was produced by Lester Sill and Lee Hazlewood at Gold
Star on April 10, 1961. However, despite the matrix number, the track was
produced by Leiber & Stoller in NYC at Atlantic Studios. That’s Mike on tack
piano (not electric piano), Billy Guy’s performance bears all the earmarks
of Jerry Leiber’s coaching, and it’s surely King Curtis is on sax. We don’t
know the date for certain, but it seems most likely to have been from
February 9, 1961, with “Girls Girls Girls” and “Little Egypt.”

The Robins
discography states for the March 2, 1951 session that included “That’s What
The Good Book Says”: “Johnny Otis not involved in these recordings.” However,
Mike says that it’s definitely Johnny playing vibes, and it’s probably his
band as well. Otis would have eschewed credit for the same reason that the
Robins added an extra “b” to their name: to duck John Dolphin (to whom the
Robins were signed) and/or Herman Lubinsky (to whom Otis was signed) and
their respective lawyers and other associates.

Finally, there
are two Coasters sessions for which you identify a second drummer as A.L. (Abe)
Stoller: February 12-15, 1957 and December 4, 1957. However, Abe Stoller was—as
you noted in your paragraph on Spark—Mike’s father, and a co-owner of Spark
and Quintet. He was not a musician at all; he was merely an investor, soon
bought out by his partners. There is a well-known jazz and session drummer,
Alvin Stoller (no relation), incorrectly identified as Mike’s father on the
Members Bio page. I don’t believe he ever played on a Coasters session: the
two dates identified above probably had a single drummer each.

Thanks in
advance for incorporating these corrections in your next update.

Notes:
Mike Stoller states in the liner notes of Rhino R2 71090
that "The Hatchet Man" was the first Robins date on Spark.Last session wrongly listed as recorded 1954 on RHM2 7740. Grady Chapman possibly featured also on last session. Earlier
discographies have listed above recordings in three sessions (each with four recordings)
in order of LS master numbers with differing dates of recordings (March 1954, August 1954,
c:a January 1955). If LS 29-32 were recorded at one and same session, they must have been
recorded in January 1955, since Spark single 110 was released in January 1955 -
but since several Spark records were issued during early 1955
(and not "Smokey") the August-September date is the most probable.
Some Ernie Freeman-fans state Freeman and René Hall were involved as arrangers
and musicians on "Just Like A Fool" (well Freeman certainly backed the Robins -
and the Coasters on tour several times in the mid ´50s). All twelve Spark
titles issued on Sequel RSA CD 868. Billy Guy and Leiber/Stoller have stated
that Berry was guest lead on LS 16, although Gardner and Atco proclaim it is
actually Nunn. Both Berry and Guy have recorded "answers" to "Riot...". Atco
purchased and reallocated Spark masters on September 28, 1955 and reissued one
Robins single (Atco 6059 with S-master numbers used). Most of the Spark
recordings issued as by the Coasters on several later LP issues. Spark was owned
by A.L. Stoller, Mike Stoller,
Jerry Leiber and Lester Sill. Quintet Music was owned by Leiber, the Stollers, Sill, and
Jack Levy. Master series 57C- allocated for LP 101 in 1957. That LP was reissued together
with "One By One" on a "2LPs on 1CD" on Collectables COL 7656 in
December, 2004. All twelve recordings released on a bootleg Robins LP (Spark 1000
"The Best Of The Robins Volume 3", 1974, reissued in 1991 with two extra tracks,
"Rockin´" and "That´s What The Good Book Says" from Modern). LS 16
titled "Riot In Cell Block Number Nine" and ".....Number 9" on some
later issues. LS 23 titled "I Must Be Dreamin'" on later issues, and "I Must Be Dreaming" on Warner/Pioneer LP 13013 (and
wrongly credited as the 1964 recording on that LP). LS 31 titled "Whadaya´
Want" on RSACD 868. Several of the above titles are on Dutch Harmony LP LS-13
(bootleg with very bad sound), which also features Robins´ recordings for Crown and RCA
(1953). "Wobble Loo" on that album is neither by the Robins or the Coasters
(actually by Ray Agee - Spark 119 - matrix LS 50) and the album is issued as by the Robins
on label and the Coasters on sleeve. Rhino CD R2 71090 "50 Coastin´ Classics"
noted as RCD (for general overview). LS 30 sometimes spelt "Smokey Joe´s
Café".

Coll CD9974 titled
"Smokey Joe's Cafe" as by The Robins and has "One Kiss" titled "One
Kiss Led To Another".

The Robins also recorded for Aladdin, Savoy, Modern and RPM (1949-1952) with Bobby Nunn
and continued recording without Nunn and Gardner throughout the ´50s. Richard Berry was a
regular member of the Flairs and sang on several other recordings by different artists as
bass and baritone. The Coasters were formed in October, 1955. In 1957 and 1958 several of
the Robins´ Spark recordings were reissued on LP and EP as by the Coasters, leading to
the common misconception that the Robins had transformed into the Coasters. In fact
Gardner and Nunn were recruited by Leiber-Stoller-Sill and due to touring engagements
there was not enough recorded material available when Atco needed recordings for the
Coasters´ first LP.

Note: S-master nos. used on single issues. "Turtle Dovin´"
issued on Atlantic LP AD2-4003, but not on the corresponding later Warner CD. That track
is titled "Turtle Dovin" on some pressings, and on Rhino CD "50 Coastin' Classics" and on the
Rhino/Flashback and Collectables ten-track CD. 56C-69 runs for 2:35 on LP 101. CD 868 is
the British Sequel RSA CD 868 (issued 1997).

Note: Master numbers 106 - 108 later
changed to 186 - 188 and used on Atco singles. "Young" Jessie, born Dec 28, 1936
in Lincoln Manor, near Dallas, Texas. Sang with The Flairs 1952-1953 and also recorded as
a solo act from 1954 (for Modern and for Leiber-Stoller). Was hired for this session with
the Coasters (contrary to the belief that he was a Coasters member - and may be
the one singing the phrase: "you know I'll bring her in some day" on "Searchin'"). A 13003 is the first
of six U.S. Atlantic re-issue singles from 1973 in the Oldies-series (issued were
13003-13007, plus 13122 and the Robins on 13106).

Note: 57C-251 listed as recorded July 24, 1957 in Atlantic files
(according to Michel Ruppli and Leiber-Stoller), but as June 13, 1957 (according to
Fernando L. GonzaleZ: Disco File). 57C-252 titled "The Idol With The Golden
Head" on ALP 2-4003 cover (and Warner CD label and cover, also on Wisepack LECD 076).
57C-253 titled "What Is the Secret Of Your Success" on Edsel LP 156 and CD 868.
The RBLP has no ´scar´at the end of "Secret".

Note: Master no. 57C-3700 used on single. 57C-328 titled
"Dance" on most later issues. 57C-329 titled "Gee Golly" on album
issues. Tommy Evans sang with the Drifters in 1957-58. During this period the Drifters
sometimes masqueraded as the Coasters, featuring Evans and Bobby Hendricks (see also
general notes on "Off-Shot Coasters Records"). Hendricks had been featured in
ex-Drifter Bill Pinkney´s Flyers, who recorded for Atco in 1957. Some information
indicates it may have been Terry Evans (who is not the 1944 Mississippi-born soul singer),
substituting for Nunn at this session (see info),
although it is more likely he may have toured with Cornell Gunter´s Coasters in the
´60s. 57C-327 sometimes filed as "I´ve Fallen". When The Coasters were awarded
for "Searchin´" and "Young Blood" on the Steve Allen TV-show on
August 25, 1957 (from which the photo on The Coasters´ first Atco LP 33-101 was taken)
Nunn and Hughes participated. "Wait A Minute" rechanneled for stereo album LPSD
135.

The re-mixed version of 57C-328 (not issued on Sequel) has intro omitted and a different
approach from Gardner and complete different ending including the phrase ".. let´s
do the Mambo Italiano.." (is in fact a continuation of the original track).

The tracks below are the masters from above with studio chat and false starts:58C-363 Zing!
Went The Strings Of My Heart
-2,3 False start take 8 - take 7 master 3:29
RBRelic58C-364Three
Cool Cats
False start take 11 - take 12 master 3:20
RBRelic58C-366Stewball -1
False start take 10 - take 11 master 2:37 RBRelic
Note: Starting with this session Atlantic recorded their titles on 8-track tapes. The first stereo editions did not see light though before 1968,
when "The History of R&B" series was issued. Therefore several later
re-issues of "Yakety Yak" et al sound different to the original issues. 58C-363
titled "Zing Went The Strings Of My Heart" on some later issues -
original pressing of 6116 spelled "Zing' Went The Strings of My Heart". Master no.
59C-4124 used on single and has stereo master on Sequel. 58C-364 speeded up on bootleg
Harmony LP LS-13 (track time 1:54). It has the time of 2:43 noted on EP 4506,
but runs for 2:10. 58C-365 also on flip of 1986 reissue hit "Stand
By Me" by Ben E. King (Atlantic 78-93617 and composer credits to Ottis
(sic) Blackwell - Jack Hammer; interesting!), also released in England. 58C-363
and 58C-365 appear in stereo on Sequel.

"Zing!" on RBRelic has studio intro, false start (take 8) and longer sax ending
plus end chat. Take 1 of "Cats" is a complete different version both
vocally and instrumentally. Master 2:41 (take 12) has different sax solo, slightly diff.
text and an extra verse (and appears on Sequel with shortened running time 2:20). The RB Relic version also
includes take 11. "Yakety Yak" take 3 is in stereo and has a completely different
sax solo. "Yakety Yak" take
6, stereo has a short sax sequence omitted after the line "Don´t you give me no dirty looks".
The
complete unissued alt master (time 2:26) has different sax solo and prolonged
alternate ending. Atco CD 33111-2 is a stereo re-issue of the original Atco LP "The Coasters´ Greatest
Hits" (although only "Yakety Yak" and "Poison Ivy" are in stereo"). "Yakety Yak" take 5 is an alternate take and has studio intro with
different vocals and lesser and different Curtis sax. "Stewball" on
RBRelic has a different ending plus false start plus the original master.
"Stewball" is not on Clarion - as
Sequel wrongly states. The alternate is only slightly different (has one
sentense "I need the money" changed to "went overdue").

Note: 58C-419 listed
in files as "Sorry But I Must Pass". The RBRelic edition has studio
chat intro and runs for 2:27. RCD 32656 is the European edition of RCD 71597.
Above track only on the European issue as a bonus track. 58C-420 issued with added credits
"Sax Solo: King Curtis" on Atco single label. 58C-421 listed as "I´m A Hog For You,
Baby" in Atlantic files (the Sequel issue has a running time of 2:14). "I´m A Hog For You" often misplaced as 58C-460 or 58C-462 (see
next session). The issued version (59C-3610, see below) was edited on July 17, 1959 and
titled "I´m A Hog For You Baby" on Atlantic (E) LP K-30057 and on Sequel.
58C-460 actually by Hutch Davie.

"The Shadow Knows" take 2 (alt.take) on RBRelic has complete different lyrics
and diff. instrumental sound. The "Yea Yea" versions of "I´m A Hog For
You" are completely diff. versions (lyrics and instrumentation) from the issued ones
and in faster tempo and the slow-version is completely different arrangement with more
sax. About "Crocodile" I really have to say: Why not issued? It is superb with a
wonderful sax solo. The alternate unrleased take 1 is also in stereo, but has different vocal and sax
approaches.

Master numbers in parentheses are the reallocated numbers given when
Atlantic coordinated all Atco master numbers with Atlantic´s in July, 1959 (36/37-series)
and in January, 1960 (40/41-series). Atco single 6132 also issued in stereo
(SD-58C-461). 58C-461 and -462 have stereo
masters on Sequel. ALP 8164 is from Atlantic´s "History of R&B" compilation
series. Rhino CDs 70619 and 70620 are compilations titled "Top Rock´N´Roll
Hits" (in stereo). "Charlie Brown" by the Cues from 1956 is a complete
different song. The master version of "Charlie Brown" on RBRelic is a stereo version
of 58C-461.

When "Charlie Brown"
was issued in the States an article said that the British single would have the line
"Who´s always throwing spitballs?" changed to "Who´s always heading for a
fall?" (but that was not inserted - same master on Atco and London). Alt.stereo take
of "Charlie Brown" has Gunter and Jones separated from Gardner and Guy in
stereo, no speeded-up "yes, you" and different sax solo. The "Charlie
Brown" outtake on RBRelic has a studio intro (but is the same take, with same sax solo, but runs for 2:44 with longer
fade-out). The Gardner-led "Hey Sexy" is a complete different version with the
other Coasters only doowa-ing, and listed as "Sexy" in Atlantic files (which
would be the correct title for this version since Gardner does not use "hey" -
track is titled "Sexy" on G50), sometimes wrongly as 58C-460. Several unissued
outtakes still exist of all the 1958 sessions (a.o. an outtake of "Hey Sexy"
including the sax of King Curtis).

Note: From this session Atlantic used different masters for
mono and for stereo. Alt.take has a slightly different vocal approach and
different sax solo. Ed./alt. uses same instrumental track with unison chorus instead of
Gardner plus Jones´ dubbed lead (on bridges) and titled "That Is Rock And Roll"
on Atco LP 33-371 and CD 870. 59C-3419 titled "That Is Rock And Roll" and
".... ´n´ Roll" on some later issues. Starting with above session Atco´s
master numbers correspond with Atlantic´s.

Edited July 17, 1959
Mickey Baker or Al Caiola, "extra one-note guitar"; King Curtis, extra sax; and
the Coasters, rephrasing the text "do the Boogie all night long" (recorded at
August 8, 1958 session, with dubs as indicated here).
59C-3610 I´m A
Hog For You
-4 (edited) 2:00
6146, London
8938, LP 111, A 13007, RCD, CD 869, R2C, RHM
Note: CDs 868, 869, 870 and 871 are the British Sequel RSA CDs of
1997. Earlier discographies show Adolph Jacobs as guitarist through 59C-3714, but in fact
he quit the Coasters late 1958 (or poss. early 1959). The RBRelic CD includes a
Coca Cola Commercial (titled "Soda Pop") done
in 1965 with Earl Carroll joining Gardner, Guy and Jones on that song.

3606 titled "What About Us?" on G50. The unedited version of "Poison
Ivy" may be the original Atco single and is definately on the Atco CD reissue of
"The Coasters´Greatest Hits" - all other album issues (except Oldies CD GLD
63169 "The Great Coasters") contain the edited version with "extra"
dubbed güiro percussion. The alternate stereo of "Poison Ivy" has only the
vocals by Gardner and Guy (stereo and no "aaahas" from the other Coasters) and
is missing on CD 871, although it is mentioned in the innerlay booklet. The
alternate "What About Us" has different
sax solo and slightly diff. accomp sound and is in stereo. 59C-3610 issued with differing
sax fade-outs (track time variation 1:54 - 1:59) and titled "I´m A Hog For
You Baby" on Atlantic (E) LP K-30057 and on Sequel.

Note: When a stereo take differs in master it is listed in this
discography (but can also appear on later stereo issues). 59C-3714 is probably an
instrumental. 59C-3713 titled "Run, Red, Run" on some later issues.

Note: 60C-4861
edited in August, 1960 (original master no. not listed in Atlantic files, but the track is
definitely from above session, despite the Rhino presentation as from February 9, 1961)
and titled "Keep On Rollin´" on LP 33-135 and Sequel. 60C-4294 issued
with added credits "Tenor Sax Solo By King Curtis" (no lead by Jones,
only vocal chorus). 60C-4293/94 edited in March, 1960. "Besame Mucho Part 2" on
Edsel LP 156 is in fact Part I. The two parts are connected into one track on Mr R&B
RBLP 102 (total time 4:06). On Sequel "Besame Mucho Pts 1 & 2" are included
in two tracks. 60C-4276 runs for 2:13 on single and on Edsel LP 156, and is missing
on CD 870 although it is mentioned in the innerlay booklet. That version is titled "The
Snake & The Bookworm" on the London single and on all albums. 60C-4278
titled "Ladylike" on Sequel.

Ed.
version of "Keep On Rolling" has dubbed vocal chorus instead of Curtis´ sax breaks. Alt.take
of "The Snake" has Curtis on sax with lesser vocals and is in stereo on Sequel (note that this
stereo version also is the take issued on Atco stereo LP SD 33-135).
60C-4277 is a stereo master (distinctly diff. sound).

Note: Mono and stereo masters are identical. All twelve recordings issued on Atco LP 33-123 (and
stereo version LP SD33-123). All tracks in stereo versions on Rhino Handmade
RHM2-7740 (RHMs). Also on RSA CD 870 (Sequel
with stereo masters). The tracks were also
reissued on a "2LPs on 1CD" in December, 2004 on Collectables COL-CD-7656
together with the tracks of the first Coasters LP 101 (the "One By One"-part in
stereo - with "Vermont" spelt "Vermount"). Gardner´s four titles also on Cee Vee 6552CD.

Note: 60C-4754 in stereo onWarner CD 27604 and on Sequel.
Original composer credits to Elmo Glick. Some pressings of 6178 issued as Clothes Line (Wrap It Up), which was the original written by Kent Harris
(later Leiber-Stoller-Harris were credited as composers to "Shoppin' For Clothes")
- see images below. Listen to
the original with Kent Harris |
The
Coasters' version

Note: The master version on RBRelic and G50, titled "Riding
Hood", runs for 3:18 and has introduction chat and a longer fadeout with diff.
ending. The track is a stereo master on Sequel CD 871. Alt. take is an up-tempo version with a
different sax solo and slightly diff. text. Take 28 is an alternate fast version with
diff. sax solo and diff. ending.

Note: 61C-5607 edited in July, 1961. German Atlantic LP 99098 features
twelve Coasters classics, all issued on US Atlantic/DeLuxe LP 2-4003 and Warner CD 27604-2
(the CD is noted when it features alternate stereo versions). 61C-5607 is a complete
different take in faster tempo. 61C-5331 subtitled "Ying-Yang" on original
single, LP 33-371, Pioneer LP 4583, Pioneer LP 13013, and Rhino CDs (the sl.ed. version
subtitled on Sequel CD 871). "Girls Girls Girls" titled "Girls, Girls,
Girls" (with or without part no.) on some later issues - and on Atco stereo album SD 33-135.
The single advertised as "Girls, Girls, Girls (Sides 1 & 2)". Atlantic LPs 81294-81296 and four other
double-albums in the "Atlantic Rhythm & Blues" compilation series issued in
LP Box 81620 and in CD Box 82305-2 (these albums include the mono versions).

Sl.ed*1 (stereo) has unison chorus instead of Guy´s bridge, and titled "Girls Girls
Girls Pt 1" on Sequel. Sl.ed*2 has Guy singing earlier with the speeded-up
"gitchys" and in stereo on Sequel.

Note:62C-6414 with brass overdub (no vocals - the trombone doing
Jones) edited on August 14, 1962, with same rhythm track as the vocals. The
"Slime" uses "...the Slime" instead of "...the Climb" and is
probably the original master, since this was the original intended title (although it is
titled "The Climb" on Clarion LP 605). The single version has the phrase
"...hip to hip - let 'em roll". That phrase is also used on all of "The
Slime" issues. (Clarion and CD 871 have stereo versions). The master on Sequel CD 870
(titled "The Climb Pt 1" on inlay booklet "The Climb Pts 1 &
2" on sleeve) has the rephrasing of one sequence to "...at the club - let
'em roll" and runs for 2:46 on RBRelic (with a short intro), titled "The
Climb". On "50 Golden Years with The Coasters" the
original Atco single is edited into one track - total time 5:21 (although sleeve says
"vocal only").

Note: 63C-7573 shortened into 45-single, time 3:35, on January 28,
1964. The original track appears on Atco LP 33-159, which is a live album of several
performers (reissued on CD Warner OPCD 1599/JCI JCD-3750). 63C-7401 (4:19) was included on
the live "... In Concert" Time Machine CD in 2001, and titled "T´Ain´t
Nothing To Me" on Sequel.

Note: 9291 titled "Bell Bottom Slacks" on
G50. Audibly -8832/9291 belong to one Atco-recorded session, with -8833/9290 as a special
session, produced by Billy Guy and purchased by Atco (both sessions probably recorded in
April, since Atco 6356 was released in May, when "Let´s Go Get Stoned" possibly
was given "Bell Bottom Slacks..." original master no.). September 8, 1965 prob.
in fact editing date of Atco 6379 (with partly different personnel). 65C-8833 is the
original recording of this song. Ray Charles hit No. 1 on the R&B Chart with a cover
one year later. 65C-8832 speeded up on bootleg Dutch Harmony LP (track time 2:16).
65C-9291 has a studio intro on Sequel.

Note: "Quicksand" from this session is by King Curtis. Nat
"Buster" Wilson listed as bass vcl on a couple of ´60s recordings in some
files, but was in fact bass with Cornell Gunter´s Coasters.

In 1959 (after the success of "Charlie Brown") the Coasters had renewed their
contract with Atco for a further seven years. Leiber-Stoller had parted with Atlantic/Atco
in 1963. In 1966 Jerry & Mike took the Coasters to Columbia, where Lester Sill gave
Leiber-Stoller control of the group for the subsidiary label Date.

Note: K-13953 advertised as "Love Potion #9", but single 6385
issued on King as by COASTERS (no The) "Love Potion Number
Nine". Tracks above recorded for Columbia by Leiber-Stoller. "She Can",
which has the subtitle (Based on "I Am A Woman"), titled
"Talkin´ ´Bout A Woman" on King 6389, Stateside and LP. "Mohair
Sam", titled "Mohaired Sam" on Canadian DeLuxe CD 1306, is approx. dated
(see also note after King session below). All titles on King LP KS1146-498 (full catalogue
no., which was released in stereo) - together with Billy Guy´s tracks for Gusto/Power Pak (see "Fake
Coasters Recordings") - reissued 1987 on Highland/DeLuxe LP DLX-7786, and CD
DCD-7786, titled "20 Greatest Hits". Date Records was a subsidiary of CBS, where
Lester Sill was one of the presidents. Date 1617 was held back for issue in favor of the
Monkees´ pop version for Colgems. The King LP reissued with chronological track
order on VareseVintage CD, titled "Down Home" in August, 2007.

CO-96665 titled "Down at Poppa Joe´s" on album sleeve and on reissue
Highland/DeLuxe LP/CD 7786, "Down At Pappa Joe´s" on Canadian DeLuxe CD and
"(Down At) Papa Joe´s" on the English London LP (as on the Gusto
TeeVee reissue of the Highland CD and on Varese). K-13953 titled "Love
Potion No. 9" and "...# 9" on some later issues. K-master nos. used on King
singles. The English Parlophone single was reissued on London 10437 as a follow-up to the
LP. The three King titles on Atlantic LP 2-4003 are not on corresponding Warner CD
27604-2. CO 96663 issued on Rhino CD with added credits "with Jerry Leiber".
This title was also recorded by Earl Richard (United Artists) in 1968. LECD is the British
Wisepack "Legends" LECD 076, mostly containing fake Coasters titles plus bootleg
Atco tracks. (see "Fake Coasters albums").

Note: Time Machine Records CD issued in 2001 in Massachusetts (poss.
with the help of Walter De Venne). The CD has eleven tracks - track #4, titled
"T´ain´t Nothin´ To Me", is actually the master 63C-7401 4:19 from the 1963
live Apollo recording - "Speedo´s Back In Town", though, is a completely new
recording. The ten tracks above available only on the Time Machine CD, and sound
completely different to the 1973 recordings from Boston (see below).

Note: "Yackety-Yak" titled "Yakety
Yak" or "Yakity Yak" on CD issues (sometimes also
"Yakity-Yak"), The ten tracks above are the only ones featured
on the Master Intercontinental 1127-CD (which is the best buy). Remaining six tracks on
Trip LP are Billy Guy Double-L recordings for Lloyd Price of 1962, reissued from Guy´s
"Coasters"-LP (see "Fake Coasters Recordings"). All tracks above (plus
six Guy Double-L tracks and Guy´s "One Foot Draggin´" of 1977) reissued on
British MasterTone CD Abracadabra AB 3119 (titled "Yakety Yak  17 Classic
Tracks" in 1997). 1:53 titled "Yakety Yak" and 2:48 "Love Potion
No.9" on MasterTone CD. U.S. Mastertone CD 8338, titled "Yakety Yak"
excludes "Searchin´" and "Along Came Jones" but includes "Jumbo
Bwana" of 1977. The three first Gardner Coasters titles on the U.S. issue are
re-edited fake live (YY, CB, PI). 1:53 titled "Yakity-Yak" and 2:48 "Love
Potion Number 9" on TVP LP 1002, which is a 2-set album titled "The Drifters
meet The Coasters" including five of the Guy-recordings plus 15 recordings by Charlie
Thomas´ Drifters of the ´70s, reissued on Dominion (US/Canada) CD 614-2 in 1987.
Platinum Pop CD, titled "Best of Series presents The Coasters" has the ten
Gardner tracks plus "As Quiet As It´s Kept", "It Don´t Take Much"
and "It Ain´t Sanitary" from Guy´s session. Bam CD 036 titled "Young
Blood" with twelve tracks (doesn´t include "Along Came Jones" but features
"One Foot Draggin´" from Guy´s Power Pak recordings of 1977, and two titles
from Guy´s Double-L session - "Humdinger" and "As Quiet As It´s
Kept"). The British Prism Leisure PLAT CD titled "The Golden Greats of The
Coasters - Yakety Yak" features eleven tracks - including 8 of the above (excluding
"Young Blood" and "Love Potion #9") plus three Guy titles - "As
Quiet As It´s Kept", "It Don´t Take Much" and "Whip It One Me
Baby". Kingfisher/Ichiban CD KF6 0024-2 is an issue of 1997, titled "Poison
Ivy" and has the same eleven tracks

. During later years the ten tracks above have appeared on several more
reissues in different packages (check all the
CD issues containing tracks from this session). Below the back cover of a HIP CD of
2002 (HIP 90122) is shown with track titles in same order as the original LP (no
"bonus" Guy tracks included - please note the differing track times although
tracks are identical to the original LP issue).

with
Thomas Palmer,gtr; unkn. organ and rhythm accomp. Bootleg live recordings by Ron
Bartolucci. Mastering by Little Walter De Venne.

Note: New Rose (French) CD also known as Fan Club CD 110. Despite that
CD giving 1969 as recording date, these bootleg recordings date from, at the earliest,
1972, probably even later - and are definately from a later session than the tracks on
Time Machine (see 1969). Jimmy Norman definitely present here with Gardner, Bright and a
dooawing Carroll. The group is presented as "Carl Gardner and the Coasters" by
the MC. That CD also contains Cornell Gunter´s Coasters (as "featuring Cornell
Gunther") - see Fake Coasters Recordings, with lesser sound quality than the above
listed good sounding live performances. The three songs with the same titles as on the
1969 "Tea Party" recordings have a complete different approach by the group on
these c:a 1973 recording

s.

This is the cover of the Japanese New Rose CD
Catalogue number: CECC 00571, titled "Poison Ivy".

New York City 1976
2:56 Hush
Don´t Talk About It Wicked 8103, G 50
2:49 The World
Keeps On Turning -3
-

Note:

Both
songs written by the five Coasters (Norman, Bright, Gardner, Carroll, Palmer) and
published on Jimmy Norman´s "There Music Company", BMI. Record issued as "Carl Gardner & The
Coasters" (tell you when i get it!).""Hush
Don't Talk About It" also known as "The Inflation Song" and issued as
"Hush" on Jimmy Norman's LP "Home" in 1987; also on G50 as "Hush (The Inflation
Song)". /
Listen
to "Hush" /

After 1977, Carl
Gardner´s Coasters continued to tour the revival circuit on and off. Earl Carroll left
about 1980, to revive his old Cadillacs. Gardners´ Coasters did not record again until
the late ´80s, after Gardner had met his come-to-be wife Veta Gardner, who did great
promotional work in order to re-establish the group.

Note: NQD is a cassette album issued by Park Avenue Productions, Inc in
1992, titled "The Best Of The Coasters - Featuring Original Lead Singer Carl Gardner
- Live In Concert". These titles were probably reissued in 1994 on CD (and may
include "Poison Ivy" from previous session) and later advertised on Gardner´s
Rombox.com Internet site. "Frosty..." probably recorded in a Florida studio.
2:07 and "Rock ´n´ Roll" from Prism Leisure (same take with intro omitted on
NQD) is of course "That Is Rock & Roll".

NST 264 is a British CD titled "Searchin´" (19 tracks) which
also has the ten Gardner Trip tracks plus six Guy 1962 and "One Foot Draggin'.

Special
note: Around April, 1996 Carl Gardner, who recently had recovered from cancer, entered
a recording studio in Orlando (or poss. Port St. Lucie), Florida and fulfilled a life-long
dream. His new recordings were accompanied by a band led by Michael Franklin. The titles
included new interpretions of material originally done by Roy Brown, Louis Jordan, T-Bone
Walker, the Orioles, Percy Mayfield and others. A CD was issued late 1996 titled "One
Cool Cat" on Cee Vee Records 6552CD (including Gardner´s four titles from the
"One By One" LP, "Just Like A Fool" of 1955, plus nine new-recorded
Gardner solo titles). There is also one video with Carl Gardner solo, doing "Young
Blood", "Stormy Monday" and "Merry Christmas Baby".

In late 1997 Jimmy
Norman quit the Coasters for health reasons and turned producer and reggae artist. In
early 1998 the Coasters once again became a full quartet plus guitarist as Gardner´s son
joined. The present line-up: Gardner, Bright, Palmer; plus new-comers Carl Gardner, Jr
(baritone) - substitited by J. W. Lance from July, 2001; and Alvin Morse (baritone).